The sting of the LSU Tigers’ Elite Eight loss is still far from a wound of the past, but the focus of head coach Kim Mulkey is already on what comes next and, more importantly, who’s coming back.

With the NCAA transfer portal window looming over Baton Rouge, coach Mulkey has offered a major early glimpse into LSU’s offseason direction during her conversation with Jacques Doucet. And for a program trying to get over its recent hump, the message couldn’t have been clearer.

“I’ve had my individual meetings, and yes, they’re all coming back except for Divine,” she said. “And you cannot understand the value of having all of them come back. That’s how you build. That’s how you get over that hump of an Elite Eight when you look at those that are coming back.

“Look how much they did this year, and so man, if they come back, they stay together, they play together. That’s how you build it,” Kim Mulkey further added. “That’s the way it’s supposed to be done. And so I am blessed that all of those great players are coming back.”

That kind of continuity is definitely rare in today’s transfer portal era, where athletes continue to seek better opportunities, NIL deals, and visibility, even if it means transferring to four different schools in four years.

So, if except for one, every player is coming back to play under Mulkey, it instantly gives LSU a foundation most contenders spend months trying to rebuild. But the one name that is already heading out? Freshman guard Divine Bourrage.

Bourrage, a highly touted recruit, never fully cracked LSU’s rotation during her first season of college basketball. Out of the 35 games the Tigers played, she only appeared in 24 and started in none of them. In the 9.9 minutes she was on the floor per game, she averaged 2.1 points and 1.7 rebounds. So, her decision to enter the transfer portal isn’t surprising in that context.

The Tigers will also say goodbye to two impactful players through graduation.

Star guard Flau’jae Johnson moves on to the WNBA as a projected lottery pick, leaving behind a legacy of over 2,000 career points and contributions to a national championship during her freshman year. In her final season, Johnson averaged 14.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game while earning Third-Team AP and USBWA All-American honors, and a spot on the 2026 John R. Wooden All-America Team.

Forward Amiya Joyner will also graduate after just one season with the Tigers. As a transfer from East Carolina, Joyner averaged 9.2 points and 7.5 rebounds while shooting 60% from the field. So replacing both Johnson and Joyner will be a priority for Kim Mulkey in the transfer portal, particularly finding someone over 6-foot-2 who can dominate inside and stretch the floor.

Still, with players like Mikaylah Williams, MiLaysia Fulwiley, Jada Richard, and Kate Kova coming back next season, LSU can maintain its position as one of the nation’s elite programs.

Kim Mulkey can land Audi Crooks in the Transfer Portal

As LSU looks ahead to the offseason, one of the biggest “what ifs” in women’s college basketball is whether Audi Crooks could join the Tigers.

The two-time All-American center from Iowa State has already announced she’ll enter the transfer portal to play one more collegiate season, despite being eligible for the WNBA Draft.

If you followed even a bit of college basketball this season, you already know who Crooks is. If not, she was one of the most dominant post players in the country, averaging 25.8 points on 64.9% shooting and controlling the paint with her back-to-the-basket game. The Cyclones whole offense revolved around her, but a new team, like LSU, could allow her to thrive in a system with more balance and elite perimeter talent.

While nothing is official, playing under Kim Mulkey would give Crooks exposure, reduce the individual scoring pressure she faced at Iowa State, and let her showcase her skills on a bigger stage.

With most of the roster coming back for the 2026-27 season, the Tigers already have a strong team, so Crooks wouldn’t have to carry the team alone.

But while it remains to be seen where Crooks will ultimately go, another player Tigers fans can look forward to is Lola Lampley.

As a 6-foot-2 wing and No. 29 recruit in the Class of 2026, Lampley averaged 12 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game during her senior year at Lawrence Central High School in Indiana. Moreover, she is also a gold medalist with USA Basketball’s U16 and U17 teams. So, with guidance from Mulkey, while playing with a talented LSU squad, the potential for the Tigers in the upcoming season is simply dangerous.

With the core returning, a potential superstar in the transfer portal, and a top-tier freshman already committed, LSU should make the most of this offseason.